The Committee Protecting Rights of Prisoners has called on the acting inspector general of police to immediately launch an investigation into the death of a 26-year-old youth at Welikada Prison on Tuesday, April 1.
According to a Police statement, the man was arrested the same day by Welikada Police officers following a complaint that an individual had entered a house in Nawala.
Police said the man, who was being questioned at the residence, appeared to suffer from a mental illness based on his behaviour. Officers said he was taken into custody to ensure the safety of the Nawala household’s occupants.
At the Police station, the man allegedly behaved in an unruly manner and attempted self-harm by knocking himself against the walls of the jail cell, Police said. Due to his behaviour, he was admitted to the National Institute of Mental Health in Mulleriyawa, according to Police.
Police said the man died the following morning while receiving treatment at the hospital.
However, Attorney and Executive Director of the Committee Protecting Rights of Prisoners Senaka Perera alleged that the man had been tortured while in Police custody, leading to his death.
The youth was a resident of Meegahakiwula, Badulla. His mother, who visited the Welikada Police station on Wednesday, said her son’s clothing had been removed. She claimed that the trousers he wore at the time of arrest were found in a dustbin. When inquiring into this, Police reportedly told her the youth had attempted suicide.
Perera also referenced a previous incident at the Welikada Police station involving the death of Rajkumari, a domestic worker who died in custody after being arrested on suspicion of theft. He called for immediate action to stop alleged illegal activity by police and urged a prompt investigation.
The Police Media Division said a post-mortem examination is due while an investigation is ongoing into the death of the man while in custody. (Newswire)
The post 26-yr-old dies in Welikada Police custody, rights group call for probe appeared first on Newswire.